Omnidirectional breakaway support system and connector

ABSTRACT

A connector system having first and second connector segments held together by a rod threadably received in an internal axial bore through each of the first and second connector segments. Each connector segment has a breakaway portion formed from an angled face on one connector segment that cooperates with the mating angled face on the abutting connector segment to form a V-shaped breakpoint between the two connector segments. An intermediate segment can be positioned there between to provide two breakpoints, and multiple intermediate segments can be used for additional breakpoints. Upon impact, the system breaks at the breakpoint and only the rod needs to be in most cases. A longitudinal bore through the rod permits adaption of the rod to selected loads.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to fasteners and, more particularly, toconnectors used to attach support posts for road signs, guardrails,luminaires, and other objects to a support structure and, in addition,to a connector system utilizing these connectors.

2. Description of the Related Art

Applicant's prior patents in this field, including U.S. Pat. No.4,923,319, U.S. Pat. No. 6,210,066, and U.S. Pat. No. 7,195,222,adequately describe the field of application of the present disclosure.Each of these issued patents is incorporated by reference herein intheir entirety.

Briefly, highway signs, fences, luminaires, and guardrails frequentlyutilize a two-part support system in which a stub post anchored in theground with one end projecting several inches above the ground forms abase for attachment of a signpost, light pole, guardrail, and the like.A mounting flange is formed on or attached to the projecting end of thestub post. The companion support post has a corresponding flange that isthen bolted to the stub post flange.

Federal and state requirements regarding the installation of signposts,luminaires, guardrails, power poles, and the like impose certainrequirements on the mounting structures used for these installations.For example, a rigid mounting assembly must be able to resist wind loadsand light impacts while at the same time failing at a predeterminedload, such as from a vehicle impact, to minimize damage to the supportpost and the vehicle and to reduce injuries.

Applicant's breakaway connector described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,923,319 hasbeen widely recognized as facilitating these objectives. This connectorhas a breakpoint formed between two shoulders that bear against therespective stub post and support post or flanges to provide supportwhile at the same time allowing the connector to break at the breakpointwhen subjected to a load from any lateral direction. One disadvantage ofthe breakaway connector is that it is typically formed as a singleintegrated piece. As such, the connector can accommodate only one sizeof fastener (nut or bolt) and only one size of installation. Inaddition, there is no ability to provide for additional breakpoints, andthe entire connector must be replaced in the event of damage to only aportion of the connector. In order to accomplish the foregoing, multipleconnectors of different variations would have to be constructed andavailable for use, resulting in increased costs and material usage.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present disclosure is directed to a support system that provides fordetachment of support system components when subjected to a lateral loadfrom any direction and to a connector having a unique construction forcoupling signposts, light posts, guardrails, and similar structures to asupport structure.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a connectoris provided that includes a first connector segment having an exteriorthreaded portion, a breakaway portion with a shoulder adjacent theexterior threaded portion, and a longitudinal axial bore; a secondconnector segment having an exterior threaded portion, a breakawayportion with a shoulder adjacent the exterior threaded portion, and alongitudinal axial bore; and a rod having a size and shape to bereceivable in the longitudinal axial bore of the first connector segmentand the second connector segment.

In accordance with another aspect of the foregoing embodiment, the rodhas a longitudinal axial bore formed at least partially there through.

In accordance with another aspect of the foregoing embodiment, thelongitudinal axial bore of the first and second connector segments isthreaded internally and the rod has external threads to be threadablyreceived within the longitudinal axial bore of the first and secondconnector segments.

In accordance with another aspect of the foregoing embodiment, theconnector further includes at least one intermediate breakaway segmenthaving a first end adapted to bear against the breakaway portion of thefirst connector segment to form a breakaway point, a second end adaptedto bear against the breakaway portion of the second connector segment toform a second breakpoint, and a longitudinal axial bore adapted toreceive the rod.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the foregoing embodiment, thelongitudinal axial bore of the at least one intermediate breakawaysegment is internally threaded to threadably engage the exterior threadsof the rod.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, aconnector is provided that couples a support member to a supportstructure, the connection having a first connector segment having anexterior threaded shaft, a breakaway portion on one end of the shaft,and a longitudinal axial bore formed through the exterior threaded shaftand the breakaway portion; a second connector segment having an exteriorthreaded shaft, a breakaway portion on one end of the shaft, and alongitudinal axial bore formed through the exterior threaded shaft andthe breakaway portion; and a rod having external threads, the rod sizedand shaped to engage internal threads in the longitudinal axial bore ofthe first and second connector segments to hold the breakaway portionsof the first and second connector segments in an abutting relationshipto form a breakpoint such that the connector will break at thebreakpoint when subjected to a lateral load from any direction.

In accordance with another aspect of the foregoing embodiment, thebreakaway portion of the first connector segment includes a flangeadapted to bear against the post member and the breakaway portion of thesecond connector segment includes a flange adapted to bear against thesupport member, each flange of the breakaway portion having a first facesubstantially transverse to the longitudinal axial bore of therespective first and second connector segments, and a second face thatextends from an outer edge of the flange towards the longitudinal axialbore such that when the first and second connector segments are placedin abutting relationship, the second faces form a V-shaped groove thatdefines the breakpoint.

In accordance with another aspect of the foregoing embodiment, theconnector further includes at least one intermediate breakaway segmenthaving first and second mutually opposed breakaway portions, and alongitudinal axial bore formed there through, the first and secondbreakaway portions each having a face that extends from an exterior edgeof a central flange towards the longitudinal axial bore, the at leastone intermediate breakaway segment adapted to be positioned between thefirst connector segment and the second connector segment and tocooperate with the breakaway portions of the respective abutting firstand second connector segments to form two breakpoints wherein the secondface of the abutting first and second connector segments and the face ofthe adjacent at least one intermediate breakaway segment definerespective V-shaped grooves that form breakpoints that will break whensubjected to a predetermined lateral load from any direction.

In accordance with another aspect of the foregoing embodiment, the atleast one intermediate breakaway segment has internal threads on thelongitudinal axial bore that threadably engage the rod.

In accordance with another aspect of the foregoing embodiment, the rodhas a longitudinal axial bore formed at least partially there through.

In accordance with yet a further aspect of the present disclosure, thenew connector system can screw directly into an embedded ground anchorsystem, which may include a drop in anchor or coupling or any type ofconcrete anchor forming a flush mount.

As will be readily appreciated from the foregoing, the presentdisclosure utilizes a connector having multiple parts that are heldtogether by a center section. These parts can be intermixed usingdifferent sizes for different top and bottom application sizes. In mostcases, all components are reusable. In use, the rod will shear and haveto be replaced after impact. This new connector will facilitate repairsafter impact and substantially reduce cost over the replacement of theentire breakaway bolt used on the national highway system today. Thisnew design will also allow the usage of an outer slip plane thatsurrounds an adjustable breakaway center section, which can be adjustedfor lighter breakaway devices. With this design, a construction crew canchange the breakaway characteristics from a single breakpoint to adouble, triple, or quadruple breakpoint by just adding additionalintermediate breakaway connectors at the center section. Thus, the newconnector will allow replacement of existing connectors currently in useon the national highway system, will be able to be used again withouthaving to be replaced after an impact occurs, and will facilitateinventory stock requirements because of safety issues.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the presentdisclosure will be more readily appreciated as the same become betterunderstood from the following detailed description when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded isometric view of a connector formed in accordancewith one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of the connector of FIG. 1installed in an assembly;

FIG. 3 is an isometric exploded view of a second embodiment of aconnector formed in accordance with the present disclosure; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of the embodiment of FIG. 3installed in an assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, certain specific details are set forth inorder to provide a thorough understanding of various disclosedembodiments. However, one skilled in the relevant art will recognizethat embodiments may be practiced without one or more of these specificdetails, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In otherinstances, well-known structures or components or both associated withsigns, guardrails, luminaires, fences, and the like, including but notlimited to their support posts, ground anchors, lights, signs, andrelated hardware, have not been shown or described in order to avoidunnecessarily obscuring descriptions of the embodiments.

Unless the context requires otherwise, throughout the specification andclaims that follow, the word “comprise” and variations thereof, such as“comprises” and “comprising” are to be construed in an open inclusivesense, that is, as “including, but not limited to.” The foregoingapplies equally to the words “including” and “having.”

Reference throughout this description to “one embodiment” or “anembodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, orcharacteristic described in connection with the embodiment is includedin at least one embodiment. Thus, the appearance of the phrases “in oneembodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout thespecification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics maybe combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

Referring initially to FIG. 1, shown therein is a connector system 10that includes a first connector segment 12, a second connector segment14, and a rod 16 in an exploded configuration. Each connector segment12, 14 has a shaft 18 with an exterior threaded section 20 on asubstantial portion of the shaft and a breakaway section 22 on one endof the shaft 18. Each breakaway section 22 includes a radially extendingflange 24 that has a first face 26 (seen more clearly on the firstconnector segment 12) that is substantially transverse to a longitudinalaxis of the shaft 18 and is generally planar. The flange 24 alsoincludes a second face 28 (seen more clearly in the view of the secondconnector segment 14 in FIG. 1) that extends from an edge 38 of theflange to a shoulder 32 that has a generally circular configurationaround a ring-shaped extension that is formed around a longitudinalaxial bore 30 of the shaft 18. The shoulder 32 circumscribes thenon-threaded extension 34 on the end of the threaded section 20 on eachconnector segment 12, 14.

Wrench flats 36 can be formed on the edge 38 of each flange 24,preferably in pairs of opposing flats 36 as shown in FIG. 1. Ideally,the second face 28 is formed at an angle to the longitudinal axial bore30 such that the second face 28 slopes away from the edge 38 and towardsthe shoulder 32.

The longitudinal axial bore 30 is formed completely through each of thefirst and second connector segments 12, 14, and it is of the samediameter and finish in each connector segment 12, 14. In a preferredembodiment, the interior of the longitudinal axial bore 30 has internalthreads formed therein. The rod 16 has an elongate cylindricalconfiguration with external threads 40 formed along the exterior surfacethat are sized and shaped to be threadably engaged with the internalthreads on the longitudinal axial bore 30 of the connector segments 12,14. These threads can either be national coarse or national finethreads. Ideally the rod 16 has a length that when threadably receivedinside both the first and second connector segments 12, 14 in theposition shown in FIG. 2, the rod 16 does not project more than one ortwo threads beyond the end of each of the connector segments 12, 14.

In a preferred embodiment, the rod 16 has its own internal axial bore 42that may extend at least partially, and more preferably completelythrough the rod 16. The size of the bore will be determined by theapplication, as will be explained in more detail herein below.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional illustration of an installation 44 of theconnector system 10 of FIG. 1. The installation 44 includes a supportstructure 46 on the bottom and a supporting member 48 on the top thatare held together by the connector system 10. The support structure 46may be a stub post or other member, such as a base, concrete anchor,drop-in anchor, couplings, or other types of flush mounted groundanchors or systems to which a signpost, guardrail, luminaire, etc., canbe attached. The supporting member 48 generally represents a postmember, such as a signpost, guardrail, luminaire, or attaching memberfor the same that is to be securely fastened to the support structure 46or a concrete anchor, drop in anchor, couplings, or other types of flushmounted ground anchor systems. Using a flush mounted ground anchorsystem, the plate 46 will not be used. Rather, the threaded section ofthe rod 16 would be screwed directly into the ground anchor system.

Although only one connector system 10 is shown in FIG. 2, it is to beunderstood that this is a representative embodiment showing therelationship of the components. The illustrated installation 44 can be aportion of a larger installation in which multiple connector systems 10are used. Moreover, while the installation 44 shown in FIG. 2 has avertical orientation, it is to be understood that it can have anyorientation, such as horizontal or any angle between vertical andhorizontal, as dictated by the needs of the application.

In the installation of FIG. 2, it can be seen that the first connectorsegment 12 is held in abutting relationship with the second connectorsegment 14 by the internal threading of the rod 16 through both of theconnector segments 12, 14. The shaft 18 of each connector segment 12, 14extends through an opening in the respective support structure 46 or ina ground support system as described above and supporting member 48,which openings need not be threaded although they can be threaded. Inaddition, the shaft 18 may have the threads terminate a predetermineddistance above the first face 26 of the flange 24 to create a smoothshank section that is received through and bears against the respectivesupport structure 46 and supporting member 48.

As shown in FIG. 2, each of the connector segments 12, 14 are held inposition by a nut 50. The first and second connector segments 12, 14 areheld with their non-threaded extensions 34 in abutting relationship bythe rod 16.

The connector system is preferably manufactured from high-strengthsteel, stainless steel, or any other high-strength material (usuallyround stock) and finished with a lathe or screw machine. Both of theshafts 18 are of the same size and thread type unless different sizes onopposite ends of the connector system 10 are required. The threadedsection 20 is formed on the shaft 18 in a conventional manner to thespecified size and type. The longitudinal axial bore is drilled andtapped to receive the rod 16, which holds the connector system 10together. The wrench flats 36 are then added to the flanges 24 to enableeasy tightening of the parts together and to prevent twisting off orloosening of the rod 16 or other components.

The longitudinal axial bore 42 in the rod 16 acts as a shear area. Inother words, the rod, which can be drilled completely or partiallythrough the center section, acts as a locking device as well as a sheardevice. During an impact to one or the other or both of the supportstructure 46 and the supporting member 48 from any lateral direction,the rod 16 will shear or break at the intersection of the first andsecond connector segments 12, 14. As shown in FIG. 2, the angled secondfaces 28 of each connector segment 12, 14 angles toward the other toform a substantially V-shaped groove 52 that creates a pre-formed stresspoint or break point. In one embodiment, the shoulders 32 form a flatarea at the bottom of the groove 52. This shoulder area 32, in mostcases, is at least as large or larger than the bolt thread size of theconnector segments 12, 14. As an example, if the connector segments 12,14 have one-inch threads, then the size of the shoulder 32 will be atleast the size of the threads, i.e. one inch. (In FIG. 2 the shoulder 32will appear smaller in diameter then the thread size of the connectorsegments 12, 14.)

The size of the longitudinal bore inside the rod 16 as well as the sizeof all of the components and their material strength determines theamount of load the connector can bear before it will break. With thisconstruction, replacement of existing connectors that are damaged due toimpact is facilitated because both the first and second connectorsegments can be reused and only the rod 16 needs to be replaced, in mostcases.

To install the connector system 10, the first and second connectorsegments 12, 14 are attached together by the rod 16 and torqued down tonot exceed 80 foot-pounds. This assembly is then inserted into theopenings in the respective support structure 46 and supporting member48, and they are held in place by the nuts 50. There are no torquerequirements for the nuts 50. The wrench flats 36 are used to tightenthe first and second connector segments 12, 14 into their abuttingrelationship as shown in FIG. 2. This eliminates the need to have therod 16 formed with a socket or other structure in one or both ends toaccommodate a tool.

Turning next to FIG. 3, shown therein is an alternative embodiment of aconnector system 54 formed in accordance with the present disclosure.For ease of reference, like reference numbers are used for likecomponents shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The additional element in theexploded view of FIG. 3 is the intermediate breakaway segment 56positioned between the first and second connector segments 12, 14. Theintermediate segment 56 has a central flange 58 with an external edge 60and two faces 62, 64 (shown more clearly in FIG. 4) angling away fromthe edge 60 and towards a longitudinal axial bore 66 formed through theintermediate segment 56. Similar to the breakaway section 22 of thefirst and second connector segments 12, 14, each of the faces 62, 64terminate at a shoulder 68 that is part of a ring-like circumscribingextension 70 through which the bore 66 is formed. Wrench flats 72 areformed in the edge 60 of the flange 58, preferably in opposing pairs asshown.

This intermediate segment 56 is sized and shaped to be positionedadjacent the breakaway sections 22 of the first and second connectorsegments 12, 14 to form multiple breakpoints.

Referring in particular to FIG. 4, shown therein is an installation 74utilizing the connector system 54 of FIG. 3. Again, like referencenumbers have been used for like components for ease of reference.

As seen here, the intermediate segment 56 is positioned between thefirst and second connector segments 12, 14 in abutting relationship. Inother words, the end face 69 (shown in FIG. 3) on each side of theintermediate segment 56 abuts the respective end face 71 (shown in FIG.3) of each of the first and second connector segments 12, 14. Thesecomponents 12, 14, and 56, are held in abutting relationship by the rod16 threadably received within the internal axial bore 30 of the firstand second connector segments 12,14 and the bore 66 of the intermediatesegment 56. In this installation 74, the length of the rod 16 isdetermined by the total length of the first and second connectorsegments 12, 14 and intermediate segment 56 in their abuttingrelationship as shown in FIG. 4.

When so connected, the connector system 54 provides two breakpoints, afirst breakpoint 76 and second breakpoint 78 on either side of theintermediate segment 56. More particularly, each breakpoint is formed bythe converging of the faces of the respective components, i.e., firstface 62 on intermediate segment 56 converging with the second face 28 onthe first connector segment 12 and the second face 64 converging withthe second face 28 of the second connector segment 14, thus forming twoV-shaped grooves 80, 82. Here, the shoulders 32, 68 form a flat area atthe bottom of each groove 80, 82.

It is to be understood that while preferred embodiments have beenillustrated and described, variations can be made without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the angled faces 28,62, 64 can have a convex or concave configuration as well as the planarconfiguration or finish shown in the figures. In addition, the firstconnector segment 12 can be of a different size with respect to itsdiameter and length, as well as different type thread construction,while still having internal threads that are threadable with the threadson the rod 16. This enables adapting the connector system to a supportstructure of a first size and a supporting member of a second size.Again, varied diameters may be used for the longitudinal axial bore 42in the rod 16. In other words, the bore can be formed to have a uniformdiameter that is either narrow or wide, depending on the desired loadbearing strength and desired breaking load for the system.

In another application, the new connector system can screw directly intoan embedded ground anchor system, which may include a drop in anchor orcoupling or any type of concrete anchor forming a flush mount

The various embodiments described above can be combined to providefurther embodiments. All of the U.S. patents, U.S. patent applicationpublications, U.S. patent applications, foreign patents, foreign patentapplications and non-patent publications referred to in thisspecification and/or listed in the Application Data Sheet areincorporated herein by reference, in their entirety. Aspects of theembodiments can be modified, if necessary to employ concepts of thevarious patents, applications and publications to provide yet furtherembodiments.

These and other changes can be made to the embodiments in light of theabove-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, theterms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specificembodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should beconstrued to include all possible embodiments along with the full scopeof equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Accordingly, theclaims are not limited by the disclosure.

1. A three-piece breakaway connector, comprising: a first connector component having an exterior threaded portion, a breakaway portion adjacent the exterior threaded portion, and a longitudinal axial bore of constant diameter formed completely through the first connector component, the longitudinal axial bore having internal threads; a second connector component having an exterior threaded portion, a breakaway portion adjacent the exterior threaded portion, and a longitudinal axial bore of constant diameter formed completely through the second connector component, the longitudinal axial bore having internal threads; an intermediate breakaway segment having a first end adapted to bear against the breakaway portion of the first connector segment to form a first breakpoint, a second end adapted to bear against the breakaway portion of the second connector segment to form a second breakpoint, and a longitudinal axial bore having internal threads; and a single rod having external threads configured to be threadably received within the threaded longitudinal axial bores of the first and second connector components and the intermediate breakaway segment to couple the first and second connector components and the intermediate breakaway segment together and to hold the breakaway portion of the first connector component in an abutting relationship against the first end of the intermediate breakaway segment and to hold the second end of the intermediate breakaway segment in an abutting relationship against the breakaway portion of the second connector component to form the first and second breakpoints, respectively, the rod configured to break only at the location of one or both of the two breaking points when the connector is subjected to a lateral load in response to an impact.
 2. The connector of claim 1 wherein the rod has a longitudinal axial bore formed at least partially there through and configured as first and second shear points to cooperate with the first and second breakpoints, respectively, that are formed by the first and second connector components and the intermediate breakaway segment.
 3. The connector of claim 1 wherein the first and second components and the intermediate breakaway segment have flanges formed on their corresponding breakaway portions and first and second ends that are adapted to be connected together by the rod in an abutting relationship to form respective first and second preformed stress points at the respective first and second breakpoints, each of the first and second preformed stress points comprising a V-shaped annular groove formed by the corresponding flanges on the breakaway portions of the first and second connector components and the first and second ends of the intermediate breakaway segment such that when the connector is subjected to a lateral load from any direction, the connector will break at only one or both of the first and second preformed stress points.
 4. A connector for coupling a post member to a support member, comprising: a first connector component having an exterior threaded shaft, a breakaway portion with an end face on one end of the shaft, and a longitudinal axial bore of constant diameter formed entirely through the first connector component and having internal threads; a second connector component having an exterior threaded shaft, a breakaway portion with an end face on one end of the shaft, and a longitudinal axial bore of constant diameter formed entirely through the second connector component and having internal threads; an intermediate breakaway segment having first and second mutually opposed breakaway portions, and a longitudinal axial bore formed there through, the first and second breakaway portions each having a face that extends from an exterior edge of a central flange down to the longitudinal axial bore, the at least one intermediate breakaway segment adapted to be positioned between the first connector segment and the second connector segment with the first and second breakaway portions structured to cooperate with the breakaway portions of the respective abutting first and second connector segments to form first and second breakpoints; and a single rod of constant diameter having external threads, the rod configured to extend completely through the longitudinal axial bore of each of the first and second connector components and the intermediate breakaway segment and to threadably engage the internal threads in the longitudinal axial bore of the first and second connector components and the intermediate breakaway segment to hold the end faces of the respective breakaway portions of the first and second connector components in an abutting relationship with the respective faces of the first and second breakaway portions of the intermediate breakaway segment to form the first and second breakpoints, respectively, on the rod where the end faces of the first and second connector components and the respective faces of the first and second breakaway portions of the intermediate breakaway segment form the first and second breakpoints such that the rod will break at one or both of the first and second breakpoints when the first and second connector components and the intermediate breakaway segment are threadably engaged with the single rod in an abutting relationship and the connector is subjected to a lateral load in response to a lateral load from any direction.
 5. The connector of claim 4 wherein the rod has a longitudinal axial bore formed at least partially there through and configured as first and second shear points to cooperate with the first and second breaking points, respectively.
 6. A system, comprising: a post; a base configured to support the post; and a connector structured to couple the post to the base, comprising: a first connector component having an exterior threaded portion, a breakaway portion adjacent the exterior threaded portion, and a longitudinal axial bore of constant diameter formed completely through the first connector component, the longitudinal axial bore having internal threads; a second connector component having an exterior threaded portion, a breakaway portion adjacent the exterior threaded portion, and a longitudinal axial bore of constant diameter formed completely through the second connector component, the longitudinal axial bore having internal threads; an intermediate breakaway segment having a first end adapted to bear against the breakaway portion of the first connector segment to form a first breakpoint, a second end adapted to bear against the breakaway portion of the second connector segment to form a second breakpoint, and a longitudinal axial bore having internal threads; and a single rod having external threads configured to be threadably received within the threaded longitudinal axial bores of the first and second connector components and the intermediate breakaway segment to couple the first and second connector components and the intermediate breakaway segment together and to hold the breakaway portion of the first connector component in an abutting relationship against the first end of the intermediate breakaway segment and to hold the second end of the intermediate breakaway segment in an abutting relationship against the breakaway portion of the second connector component to form the first and second breakpoints, respectively, the rod configured to break only at the location of one or both of the two breaking points when the connector is subjected to a lateral load in response to an impact.
 7. The system of claim 6 wherein the rod has a longitudinal axial bore formed at least partially there through and configured as first and second shear points to cooperate with the first and second breaking points, respectively.
 8. The system of claim 6 wherein the first and second connector components and the intermediate breakaway segment have flanges formed on their corresponding breakaway portions and first and second ends, respectively, that are adapted to be connected together by the rod in an abutting relationship to form respective first and second preformed stress points at the respective first and second breakpoints, each of the first and second preformed stress points comprising a V-shaped annular groove formed by the corresponding flanges on the breakaway portions of the first and second connector components and the first and second ends of the intermediate breakaway segment such that when the connector is subjected to a lateral load from any direction, the connector will break at only one or both of the first and second preformed stress points. 